Spinks, Smith Lead Huskers at Augustana Twilight

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Nebraska men's and women's cross country teams began their 2015 seasons with first-place team finishes at the Augustana Twilight on Friday at Yankton Trails.

The Nebraska men cruised to the team title with just 16 points, beating Creighton by 31. The Husker women had 26 points to top Creighton by five. 

Bonnie Smith led the Husker women by finishing first in the University division and third overall with a time of 16:48.40 in the three-mile race. Peter Spinks led a large pack of Husker men with a time of 18:57.95 to finish first in the University Division and second overall in the four-mile race.

Jacob Olson was fifth overall at 19:21.15, Austin Post was sixth at 19:22.25 and Alec Sery was ninth at 19:25.88.

"Peter Spinks ran the best race of his life, and our men's team had a nice pack behind him," Coach David Harris said, as the Husker men had seven of the top-16 finishers. "We've been training really hard, but this is kind of what we needed, to go up against somebody else. We got that, and it was a very big field of runners, and we were up there in the top 15."

Meanwhile, the sophomore Smith guided the Husker women as junior captain Anna Peer sat out to rest an injury. Haley Harsin finished 13th overall in 17:27.60, while Katrina Santiago (17:30.20) and Megan Lush (17:34.10) were 15th and 16th, respectively. 

"Bonnie Smith probably had her best cross country race as well," Harris said. "Our women weren't as much in a pack as the men, but for a lot of them it was a very good opening race of the season. I thought the freshmen handled the race very well. They were nervous before it, but now we've got that first race under our belt. I know we say that all the time, but it really does mean something. Now we go back and train the next two weeks and get ready for the Woody Greeno."

The Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational is set for Saturday, Sept. 19 at Pioneers Park.